To leave my job over this

[Rainbowskys99]

I work in a call centre for a well known company and they deal with probate, funeral plans, wills etc. I help to set up the funeral plans for people. I’m 13 weeks pregnant which managers are aware of. One of the people I work with has recently been promoted to line manager and since then he’s being really rude and arrogant. I’m Shaming me out of loud in front of everyone for not having as many funeral plans marked on the tally board. Shouting out ‘catch up’ to me. I just find it humiliating. At the end of day we have to press something on our switch board things so no calls can come through during working hours and two times I have accidentally forgot and he said to me in front of everyone ‘I feel like punching you in the face for that’ he tried to make out he was joking. I just feel like leaving but I know I can’t due to being pregnant and I need the income but after maternity leave I won’t feel like coming back . My hormones are all over the place too. What would you do?

Saying to someone you work with about punching them in the face is never acceptable, even as a joke. We have massive banter in my office, but that's going a step too far. Speak to your line manager (if that's not him), a more senior manager or HR

‘I feel like punching you in the face for that’ he tried to make out he was joking.

Report him and tell his manager and hr that you feel unsafe around him and ask that they put a process in place to ensure that you are not alone with him.

And that if it happens again you will be reporting him to the police.

My elderly aunt got cold-called for a funeral plan. She bought one but the company went bankrupt.

Your manager sounds like he's well-suited to this line of work.

In the meantime, report, record interactions, stay for your leave then find a better job. If you're not as cutthroat as the others I'm pretty sure you'll find a more suitable job. With nicer people.

Life's too short to spend a third of it with bullying shitheads.

Good luck with the baby.

Please go to HR. This is a frightening and blatant display of misogyny. I can guarantee that he would never have said such a terrible thing to a six-foot tall man, ever.

A miserable boss makes for miserable staff...however given you're going to go on maternity that makes a difference. I work in the NHS and my understanding is if you go for the full package you have to return to the NHS for x months or repay some of the money. Can you hold on until your leave? I've never worked in a call centre but my understanding is that the turnover is high. Maybe he'll have moved on following your return to work if you do go back.

Good luck with the rest of your pregnancy and your new baby.

Straight to HR with a written report of the punch in the face comment.

I hope the stupid twat gets demoted asap.

Good luck.

He said he wanted to punch you in the face! I'd have hit up and marched straight into HR. If it's a well known company they should have a good hr team

If going to HR does not work, I would consider stress leave until you can go on maternity leave.

You definitely report the threat of physical violence. And if possible, I’d try and stay til after mat leave

Write down all incidents with dates. Report ‘punch in the face’ comments to HR. Do not resign. If it gets too much, go to GP and get a sick note for a week or two. Do not let this idiot bully you out of your job. You need to hang on in there in your career. All the best.

He needs reporting for bullying but has he actually made any reference to your pregnancy? You do seem to be harping on it a bit, are you using it as an excuse for poor performance?

Jesus Christ - he’s an unprofessional bullying loser! Report him!

Thanks everyone. Yes he’s definitely singling me out. He never makes comments to any one else in front of all the others, just me. I think he’s trying to make me feel small. There is a definitely a HR team and also a ‘well-being in work’ kind of team if you’re struggling with anything so I’m going to report it. I just couldn’t believe he came out with that. I really don’t enjoy the job either to be honest

Also because this isn’t a ‘front of house’ kind of job we are usually allowed to wear whatever we like. We had a team meeting last week and I was singled out again about wearing a red jumper. When I have seen other colleagues wearing red clothing and there is no uniform policy so I don’t know why he brought it up. I think just for something to embarrass me about in front of everyone else. I was also told by him to take out my ear rings yet there is other colleagues I work with that have facial piercings and they are allowed to keep them in

Tell the next boss up about the punch in the face comment. Nobody should be saying that to a colleague. Don't leave and let him take your maternity leave away!

Note down the dates of everything (red jumper and earrings episodes etc). You have to build a record or your complaints can be easily dismissed.

The good news (I know it is not really good but bear with me) is that he is such an idiot he is blatantly bullying you. Log your stuff and go to someone. I would be tempted to start with the wellbeing team, then HR. To establish the impact this is having on your MH. And prepare the way if you need to be signed off with stress. Its the last thing anyone needs, but especially when you are pregnant. Good luck. I think if they dont take action against this asshole, you would have grounds to sue them. Note who else is around when this happens too- you may need witnesses.

Call pregnant then screwed advice line. (They’re a women’s discrimination charity)

Raise a formal grievance and report EVERY instance of his behaviour to HR (dates/ times/ who else was present). Do not delay, do it immediately. This is blatant bullying and potentially discrimination based on your pregnancy. You are heavily protected by employment law especially being pregnant, so DO NOT resign. HR have a duty of care towards you. If you can't stand being in work then speak to your dr about the situation causing you stress, and asked to be signed off with stress. But raise that grievance before you do anything else.

Join a union if you haven't already, this will give you access to excellent advice, usually. Keep a record of date, time and details of every occurrence so you have details of a pattern, though that punch in the face comment alone is enough. Are others observing this behaviour as well?

Check your company's bullying and harassment policy and what they do about victimisation, which is where an individual is singled out like this. Check the grievance policy as well, and also your union or HR should be able to give advice about whether this is a sex discrimination situation. Does he have a problem with pregnant women or something? If he's now your manager,
who is his manager?

And speak to HR and your well being or occupational health team if you can, and maybe your GP or external neutral healthcare professional if that's an option.

This is appalling behaviour, I'd like to say I can't believe someone like this got put into a management position but sadly these days I really can.

I hope you get this resolved one way or another, it's awful that you're going through this.

Why do people think they can "banter" with everyone or claim it's "banter" when clearly they were being a twat.
Definitely complain op he's rude

''and he said to me in front of everyone ‘I feel like punching you in the face for that’ he tried to make out he was joking. ''

What you do is go straight to HR and raise a grievance.

Totally unacceptable language. The man is bullying a pregnant woman and that should ring alarm bells with HR.

Don't lose your job and maternity pay over this.